Do you want to learn essential Latvian words like Grāmatas, Dators, Māja, and Sveiki? Then this post is perfect for you. While you can quickly get by the country using Google Translate, mastering some of the most common Latvian vocab can undoubtedly elevate your travel experience.
After all, Latvia is a beautiful country, and you can appreciate it better if you understand at least some features of the native language there. Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
What You Need To Know About The Latvian Language
Before learning some Latvian common phrases and words, let us get to know the nature of the Latvian language.
Latvian is also known as Lettish and is one of the two standing Baltic languages. It is like the Lithuanian language and is also part of the Indo-European language family. At present, about 1.5 million people speak Latvian, not just within the country but also in Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Canada, and Belarus.
The Latvian language is ancient, dating its earliest texts to the 16th century. You can trace the grammar rules back to the 18th century, which is why we can say that this language definitely reflects the people’s history too. The grammatical patterns and slang used have massively evolved due to historical events. The language has three dialects: Eastern group, Western, and Central. Although the language is closely related to the other Baltic language, Lithuanian, it is a different language and the more innovative one. Some examples can be highlighted in the reduction of vowels in the final syllables, the influence of Finnish word accents, and many more.
Many linguists are fond of this language and continuously try to engage and discover its beauty. The values of the Indo-European language it has retained are one of the main reasons linguists are always running after its literature. So, whether you are traveling to Latvia or not, learning some essential words will definitely give you an insight into the beautiful language, boosting your language skills.
What Are Common Latvian Vocabulary?
Coming to the central part, when it comes to everyday vocabulary, the first essential thing, especially for a traveler, is the group of greeting words and phrases like hello, good morning, have a nice day, etc. So, at first, this section will cover some greeting terms and then move on to many words that are Latvian daily vocabulary words under different categories. If you are ready, let’s get right into it.
Greeting Words And Phrases
1. Hello (Sveiki)
The basic word that you need to remember is the translation for hello, which is sveiki. It works the same as the word hello in English, and you can use it to greet random people whenever you meet them. The word Sveiki works similarly to Hi, Hey, and Hallo. In fact, at times, locals even use it to say goodbye or good afternoon.
2. Good Morning (Labrīt)
The next word that is quite important is Labrīt, meaning Good morning. It is amongst the simple words that help you start a conversation and form sentences immediately. You can use Labrīt whenever you greet someone in the morning hours or when you wish to begin short Latvian conversations. Nevertheless, wishing someone good morning is simply a polite manner that one must know.
3. Good Afternoon (Labdien)
Like good morning, you can use Labdien when greeting someone after noon. It is another word you will find in frequently used sentences by the locals and will come in handy if you memorize it, mainly in pronunciation and tone.
While learning a new term from an entirely new language like Latvian can seem quite challenging for people who speak English, these words are the easiest ones that will give a big headstart forward and help them learn frequently and smoothly with only a small amount of effort.
4. Good Evening (Labvakar)
Another greeting word that you need to know is Labvakar. Labvakar means good evening, and it works the same as the other words. It is one of the most important words as many functions and meetings occur during the evening, and what can be a better way than starting a conversation with a polite greeting?
5. Good Night (Ar labunakti)
Finally, the last for this category is Ar labunakti, meaning good night. Like the above three greeting words, a good night is needed when you wish someone a good sleep. It is not just polite but also shows that you are a man of culture and know manners that the locals appreciate. So, when you land in Latvia, make sure you wish your mates Ar labunakti before setting them off for the night.
6. See You Again (Uz tikšanos)
Whenever a meeting is over, you always wish that wasn’t the last of it. So, to express your eagerness to meet the person again, it is best to use the phrase Uz tikšanos. Uz tikšanos means “See you again,” and it is something that you should learn by heart. Saying Uz tikšanos will allow the other person to build a liking for you and help you grow your bond.
7. Have A Good Day (Lai tev jauka diena)
Nothing is more polite and kind than wishing someone Lai tev jauka diena. The sentence means “Have a good day,” and it means you are well-wishing someone. It is a very generous and kind sentence that will help you build a good impression among the locals.
More Latvian Greeting Phrases You Need To Know
These are some of the greeting Latvian language phrases you should learn before visiting Latvia. If you want to learn more, you can check out essential words and phrases in the Latvian language to know more about them.
Moving on, we will now take up different common vocabulary used in day-to-day life in Latvian. As a matter of fact, an average native speaker speaks Latvian with only a few of the essential words that are easy to learn and pronounce. So, if you thoroughly understand the following terms and phrases, you will gain at least the minimum level of Latvian speaking skills.
Latvian Household Vocabulary
| English | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Bed | Gulta | |
| Bedroom | Guļamistaba | |
| Bathroom | Vannas istaba | |
| Chair | Krēsls | |
| Cupboard | Skapis | |
| House | Māja | |
| Livingroom | Dzīvojamā istaba | |
| Kitchen | Virtuve | |
| Stairs | Kāpnes | |
| Table | Tabula | |
| Toilet | Tualete | |
| Window | Logs |
Latvian Travel Vocab
Latvian Food Vocab
| English | Latvian | Pronunciation |
| Bake | Cep | |
| Cook | Pavārs | |
| Fish | Zivis | |
| Fruits | Augļi | |
| Grains | Graudi | |
| Green Vegetables | Zaļie dārzeņi | |
| Juice | Sula | |
| Meat | Gaļa | |
| Noodles | Nūdeles | |
| Roast | Cepetis | |
| Soup | Zupa | |
| Toast | Tostermaize |
Other Important Latvian Vocabulary
Additional Basic Phrases
Learn The Latvian Language With Ling
Are these Latvian words already getting you excited? Sometimes there are apps that may not have the language that you need. Especially if you have been using Rosetta Stone and noticed that it is missing the Latvian language.
Well, to have a more fun and exciting language-learning journey with another foreign and rare language, you have to click on the Ling app. It is a free language learning app that provides unique and multiple content on topics such as flavors, music, grammar, culture, and many more. Just head over to the blog section, and you can discover various topics in over 60+ languages.
The best part about the Ling app is that you do not have to stick to only one language. With Latvian, you can learn only another living relative, Lithuanian, and other languages such as Vietnamese, Japanese, and Spanish without hassle. With the help of expert writers, you will get exposure to multiple languages and creative videos, audio recordings, and pictures that are worth your time.
So, what are you waiting for? Begin your multilingual journey with the Ling app by downloading it on the Play Store or App Store today!
